Noninterfering signal device



July 17, 1923.

L. DEGEN NONINTERFERING SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 23 1920 msuumou Inverzioz Lewis Deyerz M M44 Patented July 17, 1923.

UNETEQ STATES LEWIS DEG-EN, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

NONINTERFERING SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed August 23,1920. Serial No. 405,455.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs DEGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda, State of California, have invented new and. useful Improvements in a Noninterfering Signal Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signalling system especially adapted for sending fire alarms, and pertains particularly to a system such that if two or more alarms are turned in simultaneously on the same line, the signal from one box will first be turned in without any interference therewith by the other boxes and signals will then success sively be sent in by the other boxes.-

It is the primary object of this invention to provide signalling devices of the character described which are simple in construction, do not easily get out of order and whose maintenance in operative condition requires little mechanical attention.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a box; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the character wheel and make and break for another box on the same line; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing a fragment of the device with the toggle in another position.

The device shown is for use in a systemv wherein the boxes are connected in series with the central station. Such systems are well known and commonly used in fire alarm telegraphy.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the stop wheel of any ordinary signalling train is indicated by 4. This wheel is shown provided with the usual stop cam 5 having slots 6 and 7 disposed at diametrically opposite points. Pivoted on the frame of the box is a starter lever 8 arranged to be lifted by a hand lever 9. On the lower face of the starter lever is a follower 10 adapted to be disposed in either of the stop slots 6 and 7 for the purpose of holding the stop wheel against movement. Mountedupon the staiting lever is ablock of insulating material 1.1 to which is secured a spring contact 12. Mounted upon the frame of the box is a block of insulating material 1.3 having a spring contact finger 14 adapted to make cont-act with the finger 12. The contacts 12 adapted to engage the contact. 34.

and 14' are so arranged that when the starter lever is in its lower position holding the stop wheel the contacts are in engagement with one another. When the box is actuated by pulling the hand lever 9 and raising the,-

starter, engagement between contacts 12 and 14 is broken.

I A character wheel 15 having notches out i its periphery preferably to send a plurality of signals is geared to the signalling train. Secured to the shaft 1.6 is a 'gearl? and meshing therewith is a pinion 18 mounted upona shaft 19. Fixed to the shaft 19 is an escapement wheel 20. In engagement with the escapement wheel is a pallet lever 21. The

pallet lever has an arm 22 secured thereto which arm is provided with adjustable weights 23. The speed of the escapement wheel, the signalling train and of the character wheel may be regulated by adjusting the position of the weights 28 upon the arm 22.

The binding posts for connection to the line are indicated by 2st and25. Leading from the bindingpost 25 is a conductor 26 electrically connected to contact 1 L. nected to binding post 24 is a conductor 27 leading to a contact 12. Thus a shunt is provided, current from the line flowing through conductor 26. contacts 14; and 12 and Conconductor 27, when the starter is in stop positioh. However, when the starter is raised to actuate the box, engagement between contacts 12 and 14: is broken and the shunt is open.

Leading from binding post 25 1s a con ductor 28 connected to one terminal of a control electromagnet 29. The other terminal of the control electromagnet is connected by a conductor 30 to a spring make and break finger 31 fixed to an insulating block 32 and having a point riding upon the periphery of the character wheel The spring finger 51 has a contact point adapted for engagement with a contact point 34 mounted upon a springfinger 35 secured to the insulating block 32. Finger is connected to one terminal of a resistance 36, the other terminal thereof being connected to a spring finger 37 having a contact 38 The spring finger 37 is extended and is provided with insulation 39 at its end which is engaged by an adjustable screw 10. By adjusting the screw 40 the position of contact 38 may be changed. The spring fingers 31,

35, and 37 are so arranged that when the point 33 rides on the periphery of the character wheel, engagement between contacts 34 and 38 will be broken. If the starter has been raised and the shunt circuit is open, character wheel 15 being free to rotate and point having reached the periphery thereof, current will flow from the line through binding post 25, conductor 28. control electromagnet 29, conductor 30, spring finger 31, contact 34, spring finger 35, resistance 36, and conductor 42 to binding post 24, contact 38 being out of engagement with contact Each time that the point 35 drops into a notch, the circuit will be broken. Rotation of the character wheel will thus cause signals to be sent to the central station.

If the point 33 is raised slightly above the periphery of the wheel, it will cause con tact 34 to engage contact 38 and thereby short circuit the resistance 36. liaising oi the point to this extent is accomplished by means of an elevation block 43 secured to the character wheel. This block is preferal'ily of insulation for a purpose not pertinent to the present invention. The block is so disposed that when the signalling mechanism stops, the point 33 will rest upon the block and hold the three spring fingers, 31,35,and 37 in electrical contact with one another. Upon rotation of the character wheel through a slight angle, point will drop oil of the elevation block upon the periphery of the character wheel and break engagement be tween contacts 34 and 38, thereby placing the resistance 36 in circuit.

A catch lever 44 pivoted at 45 has an armature 46 disposed to be attracted by the electromagnet 29. The end of the lever is provided with a book 47 arranged to engage the arm 22. A tension spring 48 connected to the lever 44 tends to hold the latter in position with the hook obstructing n'iovement of the arm 22, and thereby holding the escapement wheel against movement. This holds the signalling train against movement. Energization of the control electromagnet 29 will cause armature 46 to be attracted and lever 44 moved against action of spring 48, disposing the hook out of the way of arm 22 and allowing the pallet lever to vibrate and the escapement wheel and signalling spring to operate. Suppose the hand lever 9 is pulled to actuate the box. The shunt circuit is broken by opening contacts 12 and 14, and current flows through eleetromagnet 29 with maximum intensity due to resistance 36 being short circuited. This causes the lever 44 to be moved so as to release the pallet lever and the signalling train starts movement. As soon as the point drops off the elevation block 43, the resistance 36 will be placed in series with the electromagnet 29, and the current will decrease to a point insufiicient to hold lever 44 in released position against the action of spring For this reason. some means must be provided to hold the lever 44 in released position while a round of signals is being sent in.

To the end of holding the lever 44 in released position, a cam wheel 41 is mounted upon shaft 16 so as to rotate with the character wheel. This cam wheel provided with a notch til. One arm of a toggle 50 is pivoted as int. cated by 51 to a stationary support, such as the frame, with the free end adapted to be engaged by the periphery or high part of the cam wheel 41. The other arm of the toggle is pivoted as indicated by this pivot point being permitted to have a sliding movement to and from the lever 4.4. The free end of the arm last described is disposed to engage lever 44. A tension spring 53 is secured to the toggle and tends to buckle the latter. The cam wheel 41 is just high enough on its cylindrical portion to move the pivot knuckle beyond its center and hold the log gle links in a substantially straight line. The parts are so arranged that upon rotation of the character wheel the edge of the notch in cam wheel 41 will engage the toggle and substantially straighten the latter, thereby forcing and holding lever 44 with its armature against electromagnet 29. The notch should be so disposed that it will have straightened the toggle at the time that point 33 drops of? of the elevation block. Atthis moment the resistance 36 is placed in circuit and the electromagnet has not .su'tiicient magnetic flux to hold the lever 44. The toggle will then mechanically hold the lever in position. After the character wheel has made a round the end oi? the toggle will drop into notch 49 and release the lever 44 thereby stopping the train.

Fig. 2 illustrates av portion of another box in the circuit. and parts similar to those of the box shown in Fig. 1 are indicated. by the same numerals but with a prime added. The dillerence between the box shown in l ig. 2 and that shown in Fig. 1 consists in the position of the points 33 and 33' on the elevation blocks and 43, respectively. The points are set in different positions, the point 33 being nearer the left hand edge o'l. elevation block than 33 is with respect to the left band edge of elevation block 43. Other boxes in the circuit would have their points on their elevation blocks extending further to the right, each one a little differ out than the other. Suppose all of the boxes in a circuit are pulled or actuated. simultaneously. All of the signal trains will be set in motion; the box which has its point nearest the edge of its elevation block will be the first to add to the line its re-- sistance. This will cause a decrease in current which will decrease the line current and the magnetism of all of the control magnets sutiiciently to cause the catch lever to lock the pallet levers in all the boxes, except in that box in which the mechanism opcrates the toggle to hold catch {i l in the posit-ion to which it was moved by the magnet, when the shunt .12, ll was opened. litter the operating box has sent in a round of signals, its starter will drop and it will be shunted out of circuit. This shortcircuits its resistance, restores the line current to normal and allows all oi the other control magnets to pull up and start the signalling, trains. The signalling trains oi": the remaining boxes start again until the box having its point next nearest the edge of its elevation block drops, whereupon the other boxes will have their signalling trains stopped and the signal will be sent in by the box whose point rests upon ,the periphery of its character wheel. This operation continues progressively until allthe boxes have sent in their signals. j

The resistance 36 would in practice cut down the current flowing through the circuit about one half of its strength. Its strength is su'liicientto operate the central station apparatus but not sufficient to operate the control electromagnet in the sub-station boxes.

l' i hat I claim is:

l. Ina fire alarm box, the combination of a signalling train having a signal transmitter provided with a character wheel and a make and break, a resistance in circuit with said make and break, said signal transmitter including contact means operated by said character wheel to short circuit said resistance when said train is normally stopped and for an interval after starting or the train, a stop to lock said train, a catch for said stop, means normally holding the latter so as to stop said. train, an electroanechant cal means in circuit with said make and break and controlling said catch so that when said resistance is short circuited said catch. will be moved to release said stop means and to hold said catch in release posi tion after said train has moved said interval and during a round of signals.

2. In a fire alarm box, the combination of a signalling train having; a signal transmitter provided. with. a character wheel and a make and break, a resistance in circuit with said make and break, said signal ,ransmitter including contact means opera-ted by said character wheel to short circuit said resistance when said. train is normally stopped and for an interval after starting of the train, an cscapement wheel in said train, a pallet lever therefor, a catch normally holding said pallet lever so as to stop said train, an electromagnetic means in circuit with said make and break and controlling said catch so that when said resistance is short circuited said catch will be moved to release said pallet lever, and means to hold said catch in release position after said train has moved said interval and during around of signals.

3. In a fire alarm box, the combination of a signalling train having a signal transmitter provided wi h a character wheel and a make and break, a resistance connected at one end in circuit withsaid make and break,

contact means operated by said character' wheel connected in circuit with the other end of said resistance to short circuit said resistance when said train is normally stopped and for an interval after starting of the same, an escapement wheel in said train, a pallet lever therefor, a catchlever for said pallet lever normally holding? the latter so as to stop said train, an electiomagnet in cir cuit with said make and, break, said catch lever having an armature for said electro magnet, whereby upon actuation of the armature by said electromagnet said lever will release said pallet lever, and means to hold said catch lever in release position alter said train has moved said interval and durmg a round of signals.

4. In a fire alarm box, the combination of a signalling: train having a character wheel provided with an elevation on its periphery.

a make and break having; a contact actuable" by said character wheel, a resistance connected at one end in circuit with said make and break, a short circuiting; contact connected in circuit to said resistance at the other end. and held in contact with said make and break by the elevation on said character wheel so that said resistance will be short circuited when said train is normally stopped and for an interval after starting of the same, stop means to lock said train, a catch for said step means normally holding the latter so as to stop said train, an electromagnetic means in c' cuit with said make and break and controllingrsaid catch so that when said resistance is short circuited said catch will be moved to release said step means, and means to hold said catch in release position after saidtrain has moved said interval and during a round of signals.

5. In a. fire alarm box, the combination of a signalling system having a character wheel provided with an elevation on its periphery. a make and breakhaving a contact actuable by said character wheel, a resistance connected atone end in circuit with saidmake and, break, a short circuiting contactconnected incircuit to said resistance at the other end and held in contact with said make and break by the elevation on said character wheel so that said resistance will be short circuited when said train isnormally stopped and for an interval after starting; the same, an escapement wheel in said train, a pallet lever therefor, a catch normally holding said pallet lever so as to stop said train, an electromagnetic means in circuit with said make and break and controlling said catch so that wien said resistance is short .'ircuitcd the catch will be moved to release said pallet lever, and means to hold said catch in releaie position after said train has moved said interval and during a round of signals.

6. In a fire alarm box, the combination oi. a signalling train havinga character wheel provided with an elevation on its periphery, a make and break having a contact actuable by said character wheel, a resistance connected. at one end in circuit with said. make and break, a short circuiting contact connected in circuit to said resistance at the other end and held in contact with said make and break by the elevation on said character wheel so that said resistance will be short circuited when said train is norn'ially stopped and for an interval after starting the same, an escapement wheel in said train. a. pallet lever therefor, a catch for said pallet lever normally holding the latter so as to stop said train, an electromagnet in circuit with said make and break, said catch lever having an armature for said elcctroinagnot, whereby upon actuation of the armature by said electromagnet, said lever will release said. pallet lever, and means to hold said pallet lever in release position after said train has moved said interval round of signals.

7. In a lire alarm box, the combination of a, signalling train having a character wheel provided with an elevation on its periphery, a make and break comprising spring fingers, one of which has a point engaging the periphery of the character wheel, a resistance connected in circuit at one end with one of said lingers, a short circuit spring finger disposed so that it is held in contact with the last mentioned make and break finger by the elevation on said character wheel thereby short circuiting said resistance when said train is normally stopped and for an interval after starting the same, an escapement wheel in said train, a pallet lever therefor, a catch lever for said pallet lever normally holding the latter so as to stop said train, an electromagnet in circuit with said make and break, said catch lever having an armature for said electromagnet whereby upon actuation of the armature by said electromagnet said lever will release said anchor, and means to hold said catch in release position after said train has moved said interval and during a round of signals.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this fourteenth day of August, 1920.

LEWIS DEGEN.

and during a 

